Why It’s Good To Adopt Mindful Lifestyle A La Parisienne
A French woman loves her food, her family, her fitness and her style, and she takes out time for it; she loves to be laid back, but not lazy, mind you. Try out her mindfulness mantra
Have you ever wondered why the Parisian woman looks très chic and completely put together in an effortless way? It’s their laid-back approach to life that seems to do the trick – their diet and fitness plans included. They are a relaxed and easy; they love to take things a tad bit slower than the rest of us.
And when stressed, they prefer to head to a coffee shop and sip a cuppa slow. The French lifestyle is all about not overdoing anything – it’s about moderation, it’s about being mindful.
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES ( OR THE AROMA OF FOOD)
Did you know that for most women and some men, planning breakfast, lunch and dinner is where the stress starts. Taking things bit easy here works; you don’t have to whip us a five-star meal every time. Sticking to simple, single flavours helps. Know your food – go food shopping with your friend or family. Pick up fresh produce as much as possible. Instead of rushing through the store, stop, check, chat and then pick your veggie or fruit.
Try out seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs, it is healthier for your body and your complexion. These deliver the right vitamins and minerals that your body needs in that climate. Understanding the flavours and the value of each item in your dish helps you to not only enjoy your meal, but also gain maximum health benefits. Think of your mealtime as something to enjoy and not something to rush through.
Make mealtimes ‘me-time’ but with people you love
‘Me time’ need not always be just about being by yourself. Me-time can also be the time that you spend with your family feeling happy, talking of things you all love to discuss. It simply fills you with the happy hormones. Include your family or friends in your mealtimes, set the table together, put out nice dinner plates and cutlery, drink a lazy glass of wine or water.
Eat and drink mindfully
There’s nothing rush-rush a French woman sits down to eat – even when they have to reach work on time. Even when it is a croissant and coffee, she prefers to sit down at the table and take some time to sip her coffee and eat her breakfast. Following a mindful eating habit is the first step to staying fit. Try to cook at home and eat as much freshly made food as possible. Chew every bit and take in flavour and aroma of your food. Commit to small serving size. Enjoy every kind food in small portions. Instead of going on crash diets and following food fads, pick up small amount of food and eat slowly and mindfully. Drink lots of water – try antioxidant rich fruit infused water that helps to satiate sudden hunger pangs.
Fitness is about mind and body
While it is a good idea to workout every day, but you can take things bit lazy a la Parisienne. Instead sweating it out at the gym, French women prefer to walk everywhere. They like to stroll down to the shop to pick up grocery. This is not only good for your body but also for your mind. The walk or a lazy stroll helps to relax tensed mind. When you walk around your neighbourhood or even through a mall, your senses are alive as you notice new things around you. Pamper your body with calming sessions of yoga – no hot yoga for the French Woman; more like a restorative session after the workday to relax the mind and tone the body.
Pamper your skin and hair with gentle care
Looking after your skin and hair does not mean pulling, poking or loading them with too much. Soothing treatments are the way to restore that dewy glow to your skin. Like the lady from France, you too should use gentle and beautifully fragranced products for your skin and hair. They love to keep skin clean with micellar water that removes dirt and makeup without making the skin dry, so the glow stays on even when the makeup is off. A French woman loves soft, moist lips – so scrub, mask and balm your lips to keep them soft. Protect the under-eye area with special under eye care – think soft creams and serums. Then you just need a dash of red lipstick and a sweep of mascara to complete the French Woman look.
Always smell good with your signature scent
Perfumes are very important for them; they love to always smell good, and you will always find bottles of classic French Fragrance on their dressers. In fact, most stash a mini in their bags to spritz on when there is a hint of body odour. Like her, you should figure out your personal scent and use blends if that makes you feel happy.
The French Woman knows how to enjoy her life – enjoy good food, a chat over coffee with friends and look good without really stressing over following trends or fashion fads. That’s way to be.
